I say we came to a point that we would be having hard time to educate the nation without Internet. There would be an expectation that internet is available during individuals' education. So it goes toward being a right in my view. At the same time this may not be the case in developing and underdeveloped countries yet.
You hit the key point in the debate. Is Internet access a basic human right like health care and education or is it an ammenity? My understanding is that the US government has taken the position that it is the latter although there has been spirited debate about the issue.
When people have chosen to live in rural areas is all fine with me, and in that case I do agree with you. I was more talking about those who don't choose to live in rural areas. They simply live there because their parents lived there, they don't have the means to move to an urban area, or because it's the only area they can afford, or they have land there, etc. The ones who are "stuck" in the rural areas without having been able to make a choice about it. It's a difficult topic because many things have to be considered. Interesting, nevertheless.
Of course there are the ones who choose to live in rural areas because they like it there. That's a different story.
I don't have any political preference. :)
For example, I live in Finland. The country is so small that is everyone move to Helsinki, or any other main city, good part of the country would be deserted. Now, the gevernment had provided every part of the nation with broadband Internet, so no one has to move if they don't want to, and still can have their Internet services, banking, hospitals can have their EMRs, etc.
But I am talking of a nation where 100% of the population has access to broadband in one way or another. Finland was the first country to declare broadband Internet a right in 2009, and put it at the same level as education and healthcare. So I guess that makes the difference.
By the way, I always like your Vblogs. They are always good thought triggers. :)
I guess that answer depends on one's political outlook. Playing devil's advocate, if a person wants to live in an isolated area should they expect someone (the government is usually the obvious one) to provide them with the same ammenities as someone who lives in an urban area? It would seem that one makes a tradeoff when opting for the rural life. Would someone expect pubic transportation to be available everywhere so individuals have a means to get to work?
"Google's Kansas City broadband project didn't just set itself up willy-nilly, they plan to put broadband where it's most needed."
How does Kansas City evaluate where broadband Internet is most needed? I am pretty sure there are schools, and students all over Kansas, rural or not, and they all need the Internet. It's not only a matter of employees needing it. What about hospitals, and doctors?
25% of the population seems quite high to me. I wonder why the US government is not doing anything fast about this problem. And no, the excuse of "it's expensive" doesn't convince me, when there are other nations that well could bring broadband Internet to not only rural areas but also as far as small populations in the proximities of the Arctic Circle.
"We are living in an information age and people living everywhere have the right to access internet be it employed or not. "
Very well said.
Also, there are schools and students in rural areas who do need access to broadband Internet. Only this can assure they will have the same level of possibilities that the rest of the students in other locations.
If not, in turn, this will affect their future employment, and we know the consequences, don't we?
Cost has always been the main bugaboo. Running fiber and telecom lines costs money. Carriers need to recoup their investments. Even when they run fiber in urban areas, they string the lines with the greatest possible return. If you live on a small street off the beaten path (like I do), chances are your service is not going to be as readily available and as broad as someone living closer to a main line. When moving into areas where populaton density drops, it becomes cost prohibitive to run wiring. Satellite is the better option in these areas but it is not as robust as landlines.
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